Toddler 'phobia's

My 2.3yr old DD has total meltdown at the hoover, I believe this is common, she recently did same thing with a hand dryer, an electric mixer and most randomly the kitchen scales ?!? I'm sure majority (exc. scales) are all natural 'phobia's'

Oh and again, not uncommon but causes major meltdown and shaking 'fear' of having nails cut.

Just wondering what else there is I need to look out for that might cause meltdown? And, other than lots of cuddles and reassurance that these are just things etc, assume there is nothing really I can do and it's a phase that will pass but any tips in dealing with it welcome!

It's probably a combination of the sound (I hate the sound of the hoover myself! Makes me want to cry) and the suddenness of it.

For ages DS liked to play with the dustbuster, but he'd get into a real state if it accidentally switched on. So we kind of guided him through the process and showed him how to switch it on and off. Giving him control over it has really taken the scariness out of it for him. He now loves switching it on himself and giving the floor a good 'clean'. He's 23mo by the way.

The hoover.. we have a Hetty (the pink Henry ones) so it has eyes, which I think helps because you can explain that the hoover is very hungry and we're switching it on to feed it all the yummy dust! Or something like that.

With nail cutting, I give DS a spare nail clipper, so he 'pretend cuts' his own nails, while I'm busy with the other clipper actually cutting his nails. Again I think he likes the control. Also doing things like counting (I do this with teeth brushing as well. If he's really reluctant I brush his teeth while loudly counting to ten, so he knows more clearly that it's finite and when it will stop).

I haven't figured out the hand drier yet. It's just too sudden and I imagine the noise is especially overwhelming because they're usually in spaces with tiled floors/walls. Those super fast hand driers that they have in many places are just SO loud, I don't even like the sound myself.

I wouldn't say there are specific things to watch out for or expect meltdowns for. It's down to the individual child.

Hair washing... ds still hates it at 4yo but we manage with a flannel over his eyes and just a quick shampoo and wash off. He went through a phase of being scared of dinosaurs (unfortunate, as MIL didn't know and bought him a lovely new dinosaur duvet set) which has now turned into a love of them!

rrreow I'm with you on the loud noises thing, I've useless hearing and I guess I miss the fact that they do make awful noises. I think I've seen toy hetty/henry's have been thinking that I could get one to see if she relaxes more around it, and I love the idea of turning it into something that is hungry, I can see her going for that, as she currently describes it as 'sleeping' when it's off.

Tried the nail clippers for her too and that's not quite worked - perhaps like QueeBee says it will resort to a nocturnal activity that I have to do!

I think we have the hair washing scenario about to come, she's getting more and more peeved off about it, I forgot the flannel over eyes tip, thanks benji.

fifi actually wish she didn't like the dust pan brush, she's obsessed with the blinking broom and insists on waving it around bashing things!

Giant mascots or people dressed up as cartoon characters. I was pointing out the arrival of a charity mascot to my 4 and 3yr old the other day, oblivious to my 2yr old having a major panic attack. I only noticed when I heard his scream behind me and turned round to see him frozen in fear. He had just about tolerated a giant Peppa Pig a couple of times but wouldn't go near it to say hello.

DD is absolutely terrified of dogs. She has never particularly liked one, but her phobia stems from the time she was knocked off the bottom of a slide by a vile, horrible little terrier thing that jumped at her.

She is 3, and we are thinking we may have to do something about her phobia if she doesn't start to come out of it soon. We know someone with a very nice rug collie who is willing to help.

My dd is terrified of the Hoover, hair dryer, hand driers, blender and microwave. And suddenly very nervous of the washing machine, which is a total pain, as its on all the time.Bizarrely, also terrified of birthday cakes, even in books.

Ds is 6 and still hates hand driers. Some of it is habit now though as a few times I've got him to uncover his ears and he's been surprised that the noise wasn't as loud as he thought. Luckily the school hand driers fall into this category as we had a real problem with him refusing to go to the loo at school last year and the inevitable accidents .

Dyson Airblade driers though - I'd happily go back in time and rip up the blue prints for those

My 5yo used to hate hand-driers and the food processor when he was 3 - he would run out of the room and scream. Now he doesn't mind them at all. DS2 is 3 and has just begun hating them now. I think it's just a phase.

That's weird! DH reckons the music sounds sad. I wondered if he got upset because Iggle Piggle had nowhere to sleep (don't know why Upsy Daisy can't let him bunk in with her, given they're always all over each other). But he's only 21mo so I'm probably crediting him with too much understanding.

See, we thought he didn't understand sleep properly and just that he was going away. God, I have no idea but he goes mental and has started doing it sometimes when the ITNG Iggle Piggle song comes on in his talking book.

My 2 didn't like nails clipped but would have them scissored after the bath. They sit on a step up stool opposite me and I sit on the floor.DT1 went bonkers after a Dyson hand dryer wnet on when he was having a poo in a public loo and couldn't escape. Since then I have made him stand outside the loos and see if he can hear the dryer. DT2 comes out and says 'It's ok you don't need to woos out - it's a quiet one''. We have also done the putting his head under the dryerr to make his hair go funny and that seemed to desensitise him.(Thise Dysons are bloody loud though)